RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech softball team made its 2025 home debut on Tuesday afternoon as they hosted preseason nationally-ranked No. 7 Augustana. The Golden Suns ended up dropping both ends of the doubleheader, but were competitive in both games and had opportunities to pull off an upset.
GAME ONE
In the opener, Augustana jumped out to a 1-0 lead early on a solo homer in the top of the first. They would go on to push their lead out to 4-0 with three runs scoring in the top of the fourth.
The Golden Suns answered back in their half of the fourth and picked up a pair of runs on three hits.
Sadie Turner led the frame off with a walk and was then pinch-ran for by
Brooklyn Haney.
Savannah Snow then laid down a perfectly executed bunt towards second base that resulted in a hit for her while also advancing Haney to third. Snow would be pinch-ran for by
Lexi Gunter.
After the first out of the inning was made,
Caroline Wilhelm singled home on a base hit to left. Two batters later,
Lillee Mahan collected the second RBI on an infield single to first base, scoring Gunter.
With score still 4-2, the Golden Suns threatened in the bottom of the sixth and had the bases loaded with two outs. Prior to that, Snow led off with a single to right-centerfield. Two batters later, she was at third on a double down the left field line by Wilhelm. After the second out was recorded, Mahan drew a walk to load the bases, but a one-pitch groundout to short ended the threat with no runs scoring.
Augie was able to hold to that 4-2 lead after retiring the Golden Suns in order in the bottom of the seventh.
Getting the tough-luck loss in the circle for the Golden Suns was
Alexis Findley. She would pitch all seven innings and struck out eight.
GAME TWO
The second game saw Augustana grab the early lead again with a run in the first, but the Golden Suns responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame thanks to a bases loaded walk to
Lexi Gorniak.
That 1-1 score held until the top of the fourth when the breaks went the way of the Vikings. After they had taken a 2-1 lead, the Golden Suns seemingly were out of the inning with two on and two outs as
Bradi Basler induced what appeared to be an inning-ending fielder's choice. However, the pitch was not delivered within the parameters of the pitch timer and an automatic ball was issued. Unfortunately, the count was 3-1 at the time, so it resulted in a walk and extended the inning. From that point. Augustana got three-straight singles to score runs as they plated four runs more to take a 6-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Golden Suns began to get their offense going again. A leadoff single up the middle by Turner was followed by a RBI double off the base of the wall in right field by Snow. The Golden Suns later had runners at second and third with one out, but Augie retired the next two batters to quell the threat.
After a 1-2-3 top of the sixth, the Golden Suns continued to put forth a comeback effort and scored a pair of runs on two hits. That rally all started with two outs as
Maycie Hardy hit a single to centerfield. Turner and Snow then drew walks to load the bases.
Kacie Gibbins then drew a third-consecutive walk to force in a run and make it a 6-3 game. Wilhelm followed and singled sharply through the left side to score Turner and make it a 6-4 game with the bases still loaded.
Once more, however, Augustana was able to get out of the inning without allowing too much damage and then preserved the win with a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns will now prepare for a second weekend of neutral site action as they will take part in the Alvy Early Memorial Classic this coming Friday and Saturday. Their weekend slate will include games against McKendree, No. 1-ranked UT-Tyler, Newman and Northwest Missouri.
